DIVISION THREE (NORTH) / DIVISION THREE (SOUTH) CUPS   

 

The cups were football knockout competitions open to teams participating in Division Three (North) and Division Three (South). The competitions were first held in the 1933-34 season and run until 1938-39. The cups were revived for the 1945-46 season.

 

Format (North)

The competitions were run using a knock-out format, with games replayed if they ended in a draw. In the first year the tournament format resulted in 11 first round ties, followed by 4 second round ties (with three byes), and 3 third round matches (with one bye). In most seasons there were minor changes to the format, resulting in differing numbers of ties (and byes) in each round.

 

The tournaments featured all 22 teams from Division Three (North), with the exception of the final season, when only 14 teams played in the competition. The final was played on the home ground of one of the two finalists.

 

The 1945–46 competition started with two cup competitions, the Third Division North (East) Cup and Third Division North (West) Cup. Each cup consisted of 10 teams played on a league basis, although only 10 games were played by each team. The first 8 places in each cup then contested the first round of a two legged knockout competition.

 

Format (South)

The competition was run using a knockout format, with games replayed if level. In the first year the tournament format resulted in 6 first round ties, with the remaining 10 sides joining in the next round to make eight ties. In most seasons there were minor changes to the format, resulting in differing numbers of ties in each round.

 

The tournaments featured all 22 teams from Division Three (South). In the first two seasons the final was played at a neutral venue, and for the next three seasons the final was two-legged, whilst the final edition was not completed.

 

The 1945–46 competition started with two cup competitions, the Third Division South (South) Cup and Third Division South (North) Cup. Each cup consisted of 11 teams played on a league basis, although only 16 games were played by each team. The first two places in each cup then contested the semi-finals of a knockout competition.

 

Here's a full list of the winners:

 

 ClubNo of winsSeasons in which competition won

DIVISION THREE (NORTH) CUP

Chester21935-36, 1936-37

Darlington11933-34

Stockport County11934-35

Southport11937-38

Bradford City11938-39
DIVISION THREE (SOUTH) CUP

Exeter City11933-34
Bristol Rovers11934-35
Coventry City11935-36
Watford1

1936-37

(trophy shared)

Millwall1

1936-37

(trophy shared)

Reading1

1937-38

 not completed
 

1938-39

 

For details of the Full Members Cup final results click here.

For details of each season's results, select the seasons above.